The mission of Assisting Families of Inmates is to strengthen the families of inmates in our community and to enhance the lives of their children.

Impact

Assisting Families of Inmates works to help families preserve and strengthen positive relationships with relatives incarcerated in Virginia’s state correctional facilities. Through a continuum of direct and support services, AFOI helps families cope with incarceration and prepare for release and reunification. Last year AFOI provided over 2,500 trips and/or visits by video to many of Virginia’s correctional facilities for family members. We also provided thousands of resource referrals for housing, utilities, food, clothing and medical services. The Virginia Department of Corrections has estimated that nearly one fifth of the state’s prison population resided in the Richmondarea prior to incarceration. Given that figure, approximately 5,000 families in our community are affected by the incarceration of a family member.

Needs

Assisting Families of Inmates is is need of funding for our core programs - Transportation Program, Video Visitation Program and the Milk and Cookies Children's Program. Our organization is also seeking dedicated volunteers to be a part of our Board of Directors. If you are interested in being a part of our board, and have an interest in this cause, please contact us! We would love to chat with you further about our volunteer opportunities, including board membership!

Background

Assisting Families of Inmates, Inc. (AFOI) was created in 1978 as a volunteer transportation program designed to assist Richmond area families visiting relatives in state prison. Until then, visiting was impossible for low-income families because most state prisons are located in isolated, rural areas not served by public transportation. The initiative was lead by Thomas A. Edmonds of Second Presbyterian Church who was familiar with the needs of prisoners’ families from earlier years of volunteering with a similar organization in Florida. Edmonds saw a need in the Richmond community and convinced other downtown area churches to join in by providing much-needed volunteers, personal vehicles and financial support. Within six years the AFOI program was providing visiting-day transportation to 15 state prisons, hot meals when family members returned from visiting and support outreach services such as support group meetings and referrals to other community service organizations.

Today our services include: 1. Monthly visiting-day Transportation Program to many state prisons, correctional centers and work units; 2. Information on prison visiting and correctional policies and procedures, including answers to frequently asked questions and dress code regulations; 3. Assistance to help families identify and prioritize their needs and goals; resource referrals to other organizations that aid with housing, employment, childcare, etc.; 4. Volunteers to chaperone children on visits with their incarcerated mothers; 5. A program serving children with incarcerated parents called the Milk and Cookies (MAC) Program; 6. Consultation with other organizations, including the Department of Corrections, on issues including programming for children impacted by parental incarceration as well as offender re-entry and family reintegration; 7. A Video Visitation Program offering remote visiting opportunities with sixteen of Virginia's correctional facilities from five areas around the state (Richmond, Norfolk, Petersburg, Alexandria and Roanoke).

The overwhelming majority of AFOI clients are African-American women and children residing in the Richmond area. Over 95% of our clients served report annual income levels of less than $15,000.

Assisting Families of Inmates' Transportation Program provides Saturday transportation to many of Virginia's state correctional facilities, prisons and correctional centers. Our buses travel on the first three Saturdays of each month. The cost is $12 for an adult and $1 for each child up to two children (after two children the cost is capped at $14). When our riders return to Fifth and Main Streets after visiting they are greeted by friendly volunteers from local churches, civic organizations and other groups who have prepared a delicious meal for all program participants. We realize that visiting-day is both a physically and emotionally exhausting day and it is our hope that by providing dinner to our families we are helping to provide some time for fellowship while also easing some of the potential exhaustion, stress and/or strain of the day.

Assisting Families of Inmates' Video Visitation Program provides opportunities for approved family members and friends to visit with their incarcerated loved ones at sixteen (16) of Virginia's state correctional facilities. Video visitation is currently offered on Saturdays and Sundays and costs $15 for a 30 minute visit and $30 for a one-hour visit. There are currently four locations around the state at which family members and friends can visit. These visitor centers are located in Richmond, Norfolk, Alexandria, Petersburg and Roanoke.

Assisting Families of Inmates' Milk and Cookies Children's Program is a school-based support program for children with an incarcerated parent(s) in several local Richmond elementary schools. The program currently operates in Fairfield Court, Woodville and Greene Elementary Schools. The MAC Program is designed to work with children of incarcerated parents and their caregivers. Enrolled children participate in a 17 week group curriculum which is augmented by individual support, tutoring, mentoring, family case management and other services.